Authorities in Uttar Pradesh have denied permission for two annual Urs ceremonies scheduled to take place in Ayodhya and Barabanki, citing concerns over potential law and order issues, The Times of India reported.

In Ayodhya, the Urs was planned at the shrine of Dada Miya in the Khanpur Masodha area. However, the local administration withdrew its earlier permission following a complaint by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP).

The VHP alleged that the gathering was being organised in the name of “Ghazi Baba,” a reference to Syed Salar Masood, an 11th-century figure associated with the Ghaznavid dynasty.

Ayodhya Circle Officer Ashutosh Tiwari confirmed that while initial permission had been granted under the name “Urs Dada Miya,” it was revoked after officials determined that the event was connected to Ghazi Baba.

A similar development occurred in Barabanki district, where officials denied permission for the Urs of Syed Shakeel Baba in the Phoolpur area.

Additional Superintendent of Police Vikas Tripathi told the newspaper that disputes had emerged around the event, raising concerns about potential communal tensions.

This is not the first such incident. In March, police in Sambhal district barred the Neja Mela — a traditional fair commemorating Saiyad Salar Masud Ghazi — stating that events glorifying historical figures perceived as invaders or plunderers would no longer be permitted, regardless of their historical continuity.

The state government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has in recent years promoted Raja Suheldev, who is believed by some accounts to have defeated Salar Masud.

Suheldev has been honoured with a memorial, a superfast train, a university, and a postage stamp — part of a larger effort to appeal to backward caste Hindu communities.